Restricted leave blocks

A restricted leave block marks a period where you'd rather staff didn't take leave — a peak season, stocktake, or end-of-financial-year. You choose how strictly each block is enforced. This guide covers creating and managing them.

Who this is for

Owners and managers using the Shiftly web platform.

Before you start

• Open Time → Leave, then the Restricted Leave Blocks tab.

The blocks list

Each block shows its name, dates, enforcement type, and reason.

Create a block

Select Add restricted leave block, then set:

• A name and start/end dates.
• Enforcement — choose one:
  • Hard Block — employees can't submit leave during this period.
  • Soft Warning — employees are warned but can still submit.
  • Informational — a notice shows, with no restriction.
• Applies to leave types — pick which types the block covers (Hard Block and Soft Warning need at least one). Statutory types such as personal/carer's, compassionate, and family & domestic violence are protected and can't be restricted.
• An optional reason.

How blocks behave

• Existing approved leave isn't changed. Creating a block that overlaps approved leave won't cancel it — cancel any you don't want to keep from the approved leave it lists.
• Managers can override a hard block at approval time by giving a business reason — see Approving & declining leave.
• Deleting a block doesn't affect existing leave requests.
• Blocks shade the affected dates on the scheduler so you see them while rostering.

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